Monday 14 April 2014

REVIEW: Love, in English by Karina Halle


Love, in English by Karina Halle

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Pre-order: Amazon / B&N / iTunes

Release date: April 20th



Synopsis:

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.


***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.
THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

My Vera and Mateo:


* 5 STARS * Review:


"My name is Vera Miles.
And in the story of my life, I am the villain.
But I’m starting to think that most villains aren’t evil – they are just misunderstood.
Or victims of that most manipulative force: love. " 


We don't choose love. Love choses us, attacks us, surprises us when we least expect it. You cannot ignore love, you cannot simply turn your back on love when it comes to your life. Vera Miles knows it the best and this is her story to tell. Don't judge, read it. Just remember that nothing comes without consequences or sacrifice...


Even within otherwise worn out genre of contemporary romance, Karina Halle was able to come up with new, fresh and engaging background story. English language practicing camp for adults where bunch of strangers lived together in Spanish countryside like a family was a great set up for intense interactions and funny situations. Add forbidden love, slow burn romance, thoughtfully written characters and you get this powerful story that will stay with me forever.

"Love was scarier than deep space."


Love, In English is realistic and beautifully emotional love story. It is a character-driven book that made Ms. Halle’s writing style stand out and shine.This book will make you feel everything from laughing, swooning and lusting, to being depressed, anxious and on the verge of panic attack. Karina Halle played with my emotions like a master puppeteer in this novel. It was, without the doubt, my best reading experience of this year.


For some poeple, subject matter may be a taboo topic. Married guy with kid and young college student? Karina Halle mastered it tastefully. Vera was strugling with her feelings, resisting, never shamelessly going for Mateo. No matter how much she wanted him. Did I see her as villain, as a bad person? Never. She was just a human being who found herself in a tricky life situation. Same goes for Mateo. He was just a loving, passionate man looking for real hapiness in his life, trying not to hurt anyone in the process. I cannot fault him for that.

“Love is like a thief, it robs you of all thought and logic and all you have left is a heart that you can only pray is strong enough to survive the rest.”


Age difference, different life-style, appearence... At first sight, Vera and Mateo seem like the biggest possible opposites. But when I got to know them better, got to know their fears, dreams and passions; it was clear that they would be a perfect fit. Plus chemistry between those two was off the charts! Gradually, I found myself falling in love not only with Vera and Mateo as individual characters, but also with them as a "couple". By the end of the book I was so strongly connected with both of them, that it felt like I was right there in the story, experiencing all feelings, hopes and heartbreaks alongside Vera and Mateo. And that is exactly how a great love story should make you feel like.

Do not hesitate to pick this book up when it is out. I love it from the bottom of my heart and cannot recommend it enough!


Giveaway:

Together with my fellow bloggers from Lit Slave and My Book Muse,
we have this awesome giveaway for you guys. Good luck!

*Kindle copies to be  gifted on release day*

author image

Lucia @Reading Is My Breathing

Lucia is 29 years old passionate reader and reviewer who enjoys talking about all bookish things. Currently she lives in Prague, works in business industry and dreams of starting her own publishing company. Her weakness? She can never say no to cake, coffee or good novel.

3 comments:

  1. Thank you for the giveaway, can't wait to read this!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Can't wait to read this!!! Great review!!

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  3. Added to my TBR listing. The reviews are amazing, to tempting not to pick it up!

    ReplyDelete